Holman Christian Standard Bible

Hebrew Study Bible

1The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon's fame connected with the name of Yahweh and came to test him with difficult questions.

1וּמַֽלְכַּת־ שְׁבָ֗א שֹׁמַ֛עַת אֶת־ שֵׁ֥מַע שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לְשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה וַתָּבֹ֥א לְנַסֹּת֖וֹ בְּחִידֽוֹת׃

2She came to Jerusalem with a very large entourage, with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and spoke to him about everything that was on her mind.

2וַתָּבֹ֣א יְרוּשָׁלְַ֗מָה בְּחַיִל֮ כָּבֵ֣ד מְאֹד֒ גְּ֠מַלִּים נֹשְׂאִ֨ים בְּשָׂמִ֧ים וְזָהָ֛ב רַב־ מְאֹ֖ד וְאֶ֣בֶן יְקָרָ֑ה וַתָּבֹא֙ אֶל־ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה וַתְּדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלָ֔יו אֵ֛ת כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיָ֖ה עִם־ לְבָבָֽהּ׃

3So Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king to explain to her.

3וַיַּגֶּד־ לָ֥הּ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה אֶת־ כָּל־ דְּבָרֶ֑יהָ לֹֽא־ הָיָ֤ה דָּבָר֙ נֶעְלָ֣ם מִן־ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹ֦א הִגִּ֖יד לָֽהּ׃

4When the queen of Sheba observed all of Solomon's wisdom, the palace he had built,

4וַתֵּ֙רֶא֙ מַֽלְכַּת־ שְׁבָ֔א אֵ֖ת כָּל־ חָכְמַ֣ת שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה וְהַבַּ֖יִת אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּנָֽה׃

5the food at his table, his servants' residence, his attendants' service and their attire, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he offered at the LORD's temple, it took her breath away.

5וּמַאֲכַ֣ל שֻׁלְחָנ֡וֹ וּמוֹשַׁ֣ב עֲבָדָיו֩ וּמַעֲמַ֨ד [משרתו] (מְשָׁרְתָ֜יו) וּמַלְבֻּֽשֵׁיהֶם֙ וּמַשְׁקָ֔יו וְעֹ֣לָת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲלֶ֖ה בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹא־ הָ֥יָה בָ֛הּ ע֖וֹד רֽוּחַ׃

6She said to the king, "The report I heard in my own country about your words and about your wisdom is true.

6וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֱמֶת֙ הָיָ֣ה הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי בְּאַרְצִ֑י עַל־ דְּבָרֶ֖יךָ וְעַל־ חָכְמָתֶֽךָ׃

7But I didn't believe the reports until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, I was not even told half. Your wisdom and prosperity far exceed the report I heard.

7וְלֹֽא־ הֶאֱמַ֣נְתִּי לַדְּבָרִ֗ים עַ֤ד אֲשֶׁר־ בָּ֙אתִי֙ וַתִּרְאֶ֣ינָה עֵינַ֔י וְהִנֵּ֥ה לֹֽא־ הֻגַּד־ לִ֖י הַחֵ֑צִי הוֹסַ֤פְתָּ חָכְמָה֙ וָט֔וֹב אֶל־ הַשְּׁמוּעָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמָֽעְתִּי׃

8How happy are your men. How happy are these servants of yours, who always stand in your presence hearing your wisdom.

8אַשְׁרֵ֣י אֲנָשֶׁ֔יךָ אַשְׁרֵ֖י עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ אֵ֑לֶּה הָֽעֹמְדִ֤ים לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙ תָּמִ֔יד הַשֹּׁמְעִ֖ים אֶת־ חָכְמָתֶֽךָ׃

9May Yahweh your God be praised! He delighted in you and put you on the throne of Israel, because of the LORD's eternal love for Israel. He has made you king to carry out justice and righteousness."

9יְהִ֨י יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ בָּר֔וּךְ אֲשֶׁר֙ חָפֵ֣ץ בְּךָ֔ לְתִתְּךָ֖ עַל־ כִּסֵּ֣א יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בְּאַהֲבַ֨ת יְהוָ֤ה אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְעֹלָ֔ם וַיְשִֽׂימְךָ֣ לְמֶ֔לֶךְ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּ֖ט וּצְדָקָֽה׃

10Then she gave the king four and a half tons of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again did such a quantity of spices arrive as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

10וַתִּתֵּ֨ן לַמֶּ֜לֶךְ מֵאָ֥ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֣ים ׀ כִּכַּ֣ר זָהָ֗ב וּבְשָׂמִ֛ים הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹ֖ד וְאֶ֣בֶן יְקָרָ֑ה לֹא־ בָא֩ כַבֹּ֨שֶׂם הַה֥וּא עוֹד֙ לָרֹ֔ב אֲשֶׁר־ נָתְנָ֥ה מַֽלְכַּת־ שְׁבָ֖א לַמֶּ֥לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹֽה׃

11In addition, Hiram's fleet that carried gold from Ophir brought from Ophir a large quantity of almug wood and precious stones.

11וְגַם֙ אֳנִ֣י חִירָ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־ נָשָׂ֥א זָהָ֖ב מֵאוֹפִ֑יר הֵבִ֨יא מֵאֹפִ֜יר עֲצֵ֧י אַלְמֻגִּ֛ים הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹ֖ד וְאֶ֥בֶן יְקָרָֽה׃

12The king made the almug wood into steps for the LORD's temple and the king's palace and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had such almug wood come, and the like has not been seen again even to this very day.

12וַיַּ֣עַשׂ הַ֠מֶּלֶךְ אֶת־ עֲצֵ֨י הָאַלְמֻגִּ֜ים מִסְעָ֤ד לְבֵית־ יְהוָה֙ וּלְבֵ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְכִנֹּר֥וֹת וּנְבָלִ֖ים לַשָּׁרִ֑ים לֹ֣א בָֽא־ כֵ֞ן עֲצֵ֤י אַלְמֻגִּים֙ וְלֹ֣א נִרְאָ֔ה עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃

13King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba her every desire--whatever she asked--besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she, along with her servants, returned to her own country.

13וְהַמֶּ֨לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֜ה נָתַ֣ן לְמַֽלְכַּת־ שְׁבָ֗א אֶת־ כָּל־ חֶפְצָהּ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁאָ֔לָה מִלְּבַד֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָֽתַן־ לָ֔הּ כְּיַ֖ד הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה וַתֵּ֛פֶן וַתֵּ֥לֶךְ לְאַרְצָ֖הּ הִ֥יא וַעֲבָדֶֽיהָ׃ ס

14The weight of gold that came to Solomon annually was 25 tons,

14וַֽיְהִי֙ מִשְׁקַ֣ל הַזָּהָ֔ב אֲשֶׁר־ בָּ֥א לִשְׁלֹמֹ֖ה בְּשָׁנָ֣ה אֶחָ֑ת שֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֛וֹת שִׁשִּׁ֥ים וָשֵׁ֖שׁ כִּכַּ֥ר זָהָֽב׃

15besides what came from merchants, traders' merchandise, and all the Arabian kings and governors of the land.

15לְבַד֙ מֵאַנְשֵׁ֣י הַתָּרִ֔ים וּמִסְחַ֖ר הָרֹכְלִ֑ים וְכָל־ מַלְכֵ֥י הָעֶ֖רֶב וּפַח֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ׃

16King Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered gold; 15 pounds of gold went into each shield.

16וַיַּ֨עַשׂ הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֛ה מָאתַ֥יִם צִנָּ֖ה זָהָ֣ב שָׁח֑וּט שֵׁשׁ־ מֵא֣וֹת זָהָ֔ב יַעֲלֶ֖ה עַל־ הַצִּנָּ֥ה הָאֶחָֽת׃

17He made 300 small shields of hammered gold; about four pounds of gold went into each shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.

17וּשְׁלֹשׁ־ מֵא֤וֹת מָֽגִנִּים֙ זָהָ֣ב שָׁח֔וּט שְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת מָנִים֙ זָהָ֔ב יַעֲלֶ֖ה עַל־ הַמָּגֵ֣ן הָאֶחָ֑ת וַיִּתְּנֵ֣ם הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ בֵּ֖ית יַ֥עַר הַלְּבָנֽוֹן׃ פ

18The king also made a large ivory throne and overlaid it with fine gold.

18וַיַּ֧עַשׂ הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ כִּסֵּא־ שֵׁ֖ן גָּד֑וֹל וַיְצַפֵּ֖הוּ זָהָ֥ב מוּפָֽז׃

19The throne had six steps; there was a rounded top at the back of the throne, armrests on either side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests.

19שֵׁ֧שׁ מַעֲל֣וֹת לַכִּסֵּ֗ה וְרֹאשׁ־ עָגֹ֤ל לַכִּסֵּה֙ מֵאַֽחֲרָ֔יו וְיָדֹ֛ת מִזֶּ֥ה וּמִזֶּ֖ה אֶל־ מְק֣וֹם הַשָּׁ֑בֶת וּשְׁנַ֣יִם אֲרָי֔וֹת עֹמְדִ֖ים אֵ֥צֶל הַיָּדֽוֹת׃

20Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps, one at each end. Nothing like it had ever been made in any other kingdom.

20וּשְׁנֵ֧ים עָשָׂ֣ר אֲרָיִ֗ים עֹמְדִ֥ים שָׁ֛ם עַל־ שֵׁ֥שׁ הַֽמַּעֲל֖וֹת מִזֶּ֣ה וּמִזֶּ֑ה לֹֽא־ נַעֲשָׂ֥ה כֵ֖ן לְכָל־ מַמְלָכֽוֹת׃

21All of King Solomon's drinking cups were gold, and all the utensils of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. There was no silver, since it was considered as nothing in Solomon's time,

21וְ֠כֹל כְּלֵ֞י מַשְׁקֵ֨ה הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה֙ זָהָ֔ב וְכֹ֗ל כְּלֵ֛י בֵּֽית־ יַ֥עַר הַלְּבָנ֖וֹן זָהָ֣ב סָג֑וּר אֵ֣ין כֶּ֗סֶף לֹ֥א נֶחְשָׁ֛ב בִּימֵ֥י שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לִמְאֽוּמָה׃

22for the king had ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram's fleet, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

22כִּי֩ אֳנִ֨י תַרְשִׁ֤ישׁ לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ בַּיָּ֔ם עִ֖ם אֳנִ֣י חִירָ֑ם אַחַת֩ לְשָׁלֹ֨שׁ שָׁנִ֜ים תָּב֣וֹא ׀ אֳנִ֣י תַרְשִׁ֗ישׁ נֹֽשְׂאֵת֙ זָהָ֣ב וָכֶ֔סֶף שֶׁנְהַבִּ֥ים וְקֹפִ֖ים וְתֻכִּיִּֽים׃

23King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the world in riches and in wisdom.

23וַיִּגְדַּל֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה מִכֹּ֖ל מַלְכֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ לְעֹ֖שֶׁר וּלְחָכְמָֽה׃

24The whole world wanted an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart.

24וְכָ֨ל־ הָאָ֔רֶץ מְבַקְשִׁ֖ים אֶת־ פְּנֵ֣י שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה לִשְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ אֶת־ חָכְמָת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁר־ נָתַ֥ן אֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּלִבּֽוֹ׃

25Every man would bring his annual tribute: items of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, and horses and mules.

25וְהֵ֣מָּה מְבִאִ֣ים אִ֣ישׁ מִנְחָת֡וֹ כְּלֵ֣י כֶסֶף֩ וּכְלֵ֨י זָהָ֤ב וּשְׂלָמוֹת֙ וְנֵ֣שֶׁק וּבְשָׂמִ֔ים סוּסִ֖ים וּפְרָדִ֑ים דְּבַר־ שָׁנָ֖ה בְּשָׁנָֽה׃ ס

26Solomon accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen and stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.

26וַיֶּאֱסֹ֣ף שְׁלֹמֹה֮ רֶ֣כֶב וּפָרָשִׁים֒ וַיְהִי־ ל֗וֹ אֶ֤לֶף וְאַרְבַּע־ מֵאוֹת֙ רֶ֔כֶב וּשְׁנֵים־ עָשָׂ֥ר אֶ֖לֶף פָּֽרָשִׁ֑ים וַיַּנְחֵם֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י הָרֶ֔כֶב וְעִם־ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

27The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar as abundant as sycamore in the Judean foothills.

27וַיִּתֵּ֨ן הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ אֶת־ הַכֶּ֛סֶף בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם כָּאֲבָנִ֑ים וְאֵ֣ת הָאֲרָזִ֗ים נָתַ֛ן כַּשִּׁקְמִ֥ים אֲשֶׁר־ בַּשְּׁפֵלָ֖ה לָרֹֽב׃

28Solomon's horses were imported from Egypt and Kue. The king's traders bought them from Kue at the going price.

28וּמוֹצָ֧א הַסּוּסִ֛ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִשְׁלֹמֹ֖ה מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וּמִקְוֵ֕ה סֹחֲרֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ יִקְח֥וּ מִקְוֵ֖ה בִּמְחִֽיר׃

29A chariot was imported from Egypt for 15 pounds of silver, and a horse for about four pounds. In the same way, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram through their agents.

29וַֽ֠תַּעֲלֶה וַתֵּצֵ֨א מֶרְכָּבָ֤ה מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ בְּשֵׁ֣שׁ מֵא֣וֹת כֶּ֔סֶף וְס֖וּס בַּחֲמִשִּׁ֣ים וּמֵאָ֑ה וְ֠כֵן לְכָל־ מַלְכֵ֧י הַחִתִּ֛ים וּלְמַלְכֵ֥י אֲרָ֖ם בְּיָדָ֥ם יֹצִֽאוּ׃ פ

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